Modeling human nutrition using human embryonic stem cells

Danny Ben-Zvi; Douglas A Melton

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.039

Modeling human nutrition using human embryonic stem cells

Cell. 2015 Mar 26;161(1):12-17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.039.

Authors

Danny Ben-Zvi¹, Douglas A Melton²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge MA, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge MA, USA.

PMID: 25815980
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.039

Abstract

Nutrition presents unanswered scientific questions of high public health importance. We envision model systems composed of interacting gastrointestinal and metabolic tissues derived from human embryonic stem cells, populated by gut microbiota. The culture will be embedded in 3D scaffolds, creating a controlled experimental system that enables tissue sampling and imaging.

MeSH terms

Animals
Diet
Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
Gastrointestinal Tract / physiology*
Humans
Models, Animal
Models, Biological*
Nutritional Physiological Phenomena